Quiz: Howstuffworks

Trivia Quiz of the Day

Beth Hendricks

Image: SensorSpot / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Quick! Who was the first man to walk on the moon? Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? What kind of car was the General Lee? Who was the fourth president of the United States? What flower does vanilla bean come from? Did you nail those or did you stumble a bit? Those are four quick-hit trivia questions in four very different areas of expertise, but if you're a trivia lover, this is the type of thing you live for!

And, there's even better news: Experts in science and medicine believe that trivia quizzes and game nights that involve them are actually good for your brain, keeping you engaged and improving your memory. Just like your body benefits from regular exercise, your brain can benefit from its own "cardio." Sounds like this quiz is just what the doctor ordered, huh?

So, now it's time to get started. We've curated an interesting assortment of trivia factoids here, ranging from sports to science to ice cream (yum!). Test your smarts – and give your brain the workout it so desperately wants – with this trivia quiz of the day. Then, come back tomorrow, and let's do it again! Now ... get going!

Image Source / Getty Images

H20 anyone? How many elements are there on the periodic table?

27

400

118

99

The periodic table of elements contains 118 different elements, from hydrogen to ununoctium. Each of these elements is assigned an atomic number. Hydrogen, for example, is No. 1 and is represented by the letter "H."

Richard Newstead / Moment / Getty Images

Who holds the title for "best-selling album of all time?"

The Eagles

Whitney Houston

Michael Jackson

The Bee Gees

For a number of years, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" held the top spot as the best-selling album of all time. Proving their longevity, though, the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975" passed The Gloved One for the top spot.

asiseeit / E+ / Getty Images

If you have this blood type, you can donate universally. Which one is it?

A

B

O

AB

People who belong to the blood type O are considered "universal donors," meaning that they are able to donate blood to any of the blood types. Individuals who are O negative, specifically, have this capability.

Rex Lisman / Moment Open / Getty Images

An animal that eats both meat and plants is known as what?

Piscivore

Carnivore

Herbivore

Omnivore

Some animals don't discriminate, eating both a meat- and plant-based diet. These animals are called "omnivores" for their more diverse culinary tastes. Herbivores focus solely on a plant-based diet, while carnivores eat all the meat.

Lauren Bates / Moment / Getty Images

Roughly how many bones is a human baby born with?

87

150

206

300

Did you know we're born with more bones than we have as adults? It's true! Babies are born with roughly 300 bones, but as we grow, they fuse together, giving us the roughly 206-bone skeleton of a human adult.

clu / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

This prolific writer penned classics such as "Romeo & Juliet" and "Macbeth." Who was it?

James Joyce

Ernest Hemingway

William Shakespeare

Leo Tolstoy

Three cheers for Shakespeare! Noted playwright William Shakespeare is to thank for classics like "Romeo & Juliet," "Macbeth," "Hamlet," "Othello" and "Julius Caesar," among others.

Wiki Commons by Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC

Knock-knock, anyone home? Who would you find living at 10 Downing Street?

The U.S. president

Elton John

The British Prime Minister

The Queen of England

The first prime minister to live at 10 Downing Street was Robert Walpole, when he was gifted the residence by King George II. The famous address has served as the prime minister's official residence ever since.

Wiki Commons

The artwork known as "Mona Lisa" was painted by which of these artists?

Leonardo da Vinci

Pablo Picasso

Vincent nan Gogh

Michelangelo

Leonardo da Vinci is credited with painting what has become one of the world's most famous and celebrated pieces of art, the Mona Lisa. It currently hangs at the Louvre Museum in France.

PM Images / Stockbyte / Getty Images

Add them up: How many dots are on a pair of dice?

21

40

42

56

Each die has 21 dots spread among six sides (with ranges from 1 dot to six dots each). That means when you add up 1+2+3+4+5+6, you get 21. Multiply that by two (for two dice), and you arrive at 42!

TokenPhoto / E+ / Getty Images

Which of these phrases includes the words that start The Holy Bible?

"Amen and amen ..."

"Now, let us consider ..."

"In the beginning ... "

"Once upon a time .... "

It's always best to start at the beginning, right? Which is exactly what The Holy Bible does, when Genesis 1:1 begins with, "In the beginning..." It then goes on to explain the days of creation in the early history of the world.

Towfiqu Photography / Moment / Getty Images

What is this symbol – # – called when used on social media?

A pound sign

A sharp

A hashtag

A number sign

Even though the "#" has had numerous uses and meanings (including all of the answer choices presented), it is known solely as a "hashtag" when used on social media to group common thoughts together.

Walt Disney Productions

In "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," what did the dwarfs do for work?

They were shoemakers.

They were electricians.

They were miners.

They didn't work.

Who remembers, "Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go?" Catchy tune. The dwarfs used to sign this headed to (and coming home) from their worksite, where they functioned as (miniature) miners.

xingmin07 / E+ / Getty Images

Water, water, everywhere: Which of these is the world's largest body of water?

Caribbean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Arabian Sea

The Pacific Ocean wins this designation, and it's not even really close. This body of water occupies an entire one-third of the surface of the Earth and touches the Americas, Asia and Australia.

Rekha Garton / DigitalVision / Getty Images

What is the term for a fictional work that is shorter than a novel, but longer than a short story?

Novella

Play

Narrative

Epilogue

A novella is the name for a work that falls between a short story and a novel in terms of length. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," which tells the story of a changed Scrooge, is considered to be a novella.

RoBeDeRo / E+ / Getty Images

If you travel to Japan, you'll need to convert your money into which type of currency?

Dinar

Yen

Euro

Rupee

The Japanese form of currency is known as the "yen." It is one of the most popular forms of currency in the world, beside the Euro and the U.S. dollar. A typical can of soda will cost you about 120 yen in Japan.

DrGrounds / E+ / Getty Images

Grab your tape measure! How is the size of a flat-screen TV measured?

Transversally

Diagonally

Horizontally

Vertically

Trying to figure out the picture size of your television? Grab a tape measure and extend it diagonally from the upper left corner to the lower right corner. This will tell you the size of your flat screen.

bucky_za / E+ / Getty Images

The better to hear you with, my dear! Which type of elephant has the largest ears?

Indian

African

Asian

Chinese

African elephants boast the largest ears among the roughly 10 or so elephant species on the Earth. You can remember this by recalling that an African elephant's ears take on the shape of the African continent. They're used to help keep the large mammals cool.

ROMAOSLO / E+ / Getty Images

It's time for art class! What colors of paint would you need to make orange?

Red and yellow

Blue and yellow

Green and red

Red and blue

Running short on colors? If you're in the market for a shade of orange, but don't have any on-hand, consider mixing red and yellow to create a new shade - orange! Red and yellow are both primary colors; when mixed, they make the secondary color known as orange.

photovideostock / E+ / Getty Images

If you were traveling to the Red Planet, where are you headed?

Pluto

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Mars earned the name, "The Red Planet," for the red color it gives off when viewed. That is due to iron oxide on its surface that sets its color apart from the remainder of the solar system.

Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Moment / Getty Images

Which natural disaster has the ability to turn water into gold?

Wildfire

Tornado

Hurricane

Earthquake

There's definitely a strong tie between California's earthquakes and the Gold Rush that happened in the state in the 1840s. Scientists believe that earthquakes cause the water present in faults to vaporize, leaving behind gold in its place.

Wiki Commons by Mikamote

If you were personal friends with Jay-Z, you might call him by this, his real name. What is it?

Sean Carter

Sean Combs

Nasir Jones

Nayvadius Wilburn

If you're a fan of his, you'll hear him mention it in some of his songs, but Jay-Z's given name is Sean Corey Carter (extra points if you knew his middle name). That makes Queen Bey, Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles Carter, if you please.

Wiki Commons by George M. Hill

What color were Dorothy's slippers in the original "Wizard of Oz?"

Black

Gold

Red

Silver

When L. Frank Baum wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," he gave Dorothy silver slippers, not the sparkly red ones we've grown accustomed to seeing thanks to the movie. The color was changed for the film to draw more contrast against the yellow brick road.

Wiki Commons by Agnete

What does the letter "X" mean in Roman numerals?

10

5

50

100

In Roman numerals, the letter "X" represents the number 10. This system of numbers was devised in Rome and used for generations before being replaced by the numbering system we use today.

Wiki Commons by Andrew Scheer

Which NBA team was responsible for giving Canada its first conference title?

Montreal Canadiens

Toronto Raptors

Ottawa Senators

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Raptors finally brought an NBA Championship to the country of Canada when the Kawhi Leonard-led team beat the Golden State Warriors at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Wiki Commons by Harris & Ewing

How many years did World War II last?

8

4

6

3

World War II started in 1939 when Hitler's troops invaded Poland and continued through 1945 when Germany and Japan surrendered. World War II caused the deaths of upward of 80 million people, by some estimates.

timmy / E+ / Getty Images

What is the official medical term for a heart attack?

Cardiac arrest

Myocardial infarction

Myocarditis

Cerebrovascular accident

If the doctor says you've had a "myocardial infarction," what he or she is trying to tell you is that you've had a heart attack. Heart attacks happen when vessels carrying blood to the heart become blocked.

Wiki Commons by Jorge Barrios

You've probably used it, but do you know what the acronym WD-40 stands for?

Water Displacement – 40th Attempt

Wet or Dry – 40 Max

Water Development – 40 Exposure

Waste Discrepancy – 40 Proof

It's good for squeaky hinges, but do you know where its name came from? WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement – 40th Attempt," a nod to the number of tries it took manufacturers to perfect the recipe. It's NOT a lubricant!

BRETT STEVENS / Cultura / Getty Images

Rocky road or mint chocolate chip? Which of these countries is credited with inventing ice cream?

Switzerland

Italy

United States

China

You can thank the Chinese if you love the sweet and creamy treat known as ice cream. It is believed that the first ice cream-esque treat was created in that country as early as 3000 B.C.

Rubén Chase Carbó / Moment Open / Getty Images

What is the name of the fish that's considered most venomous for humans?

Lionfish

Stonefish

Scorpion fish

Stargazer fish

Beware the stonefish – one of the most venomous in the world and potentially fatal for humans who come in contact with them. The stonefish earned its name for its ability to blend into the sea floor.

No weather lovers here! What is the fear of fog called?

Homichlophobia

Arachnophobia

Allodoxaphobia

Chronomentrophobia

From the Greek word "homíkhlē," which means "mist or fog," we find this unusual phobia. Individuals suffering from homichlophobia have a fear of fog or foggy conditions, perhaps because they can't see what's happening.

jfairone / E+ / Getty Images

If you were born on Christmas Day, what zodiac symbol represents you?

Cancer

Capricorn

Taurus

Leo

We think if you have a Christmas birthday, you're already pretty awesome. Christmas babies share the Capricorn zodiac sign, and are marked by traits of patience and determination.

Castle Rock Entertainment

In which movie would you hear the famous line, "You can't handle the truth?"

"Pretty Woman"

"Forrest Gump"

"A Few Good Men"

"The Godfather"

One of the most memorable movie lines of all time, "You can't handle the truth" was delivered by a character named Colonel Nathan Jessup, played by Jack Nicholson. The movie also featured Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon.

Poligrafistka / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images

Which southern U.S. state is known by the nickname, "The Pelican State?"

Alabama

Florida

Mississippi

Louisiana

Welcome to Louisiana, known as "The Pelican State." The state earned this nickname for its state bird, the brown pelican, and its NBA team also shares the same name, the New Orleans Pelicans.

zxvisual / E+ / Getty Images

Where is the statue known as "Christ the Redeemer" located?

Sydney, Australia

Nashville, Tennessee

Prague, Czech Republic

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Standing 125 feet tall more than 2,300 feet over the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the statue known as "Christ the Redeemer." It was completed in 1931 and is made from concrete and soapstone.

art-4-art / E+ / Getty Images

What is the chemical formula for sodium chloride, or salt?

ClNa

SoCl

Sa

NaCl

The two chemical elements that come together to make salt are sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl). Thus, the chemical formula for this common household product is NaCl. Na and Cl are represented on the periodic table of elements.

Wiki Commons by Dnh52

Which toy still enjoyed by children today was invented in 1958 by Arthur Melin?

Silly Putty

Rubik's Cube

Hula Hoop

Tinkertoys

Melin was quite the inventor, apparently. As co-founder of the WHAM-O Manufacturing Company, he helped create the Hula Hoop and also worked in the manufacture of other vintage toys such as the Frisbee, the Superball and the Hacky Sack.

Krug Studios / Corbis / Getty Images

Mmm ... What sits on top of a traditional shepherd's pie?

Mashed potatoes

Pie crust

Whipped cream

Creamed corn

A traditional shepherd's pie, which is believed to have originated in the U.K., is filled with meat and vegetables covered with gravy and then topped with mashed potatoes. It has also been called a "cottage pie."

Wiki Commons by Fernando Frazão / Agência Brasil

The upcoming Summer Olympics in 2020 will be hosted in what city?

Atlanta

Madrid

Tokyo

Rome

The next Summer Olympics, which will take place in 2020, will be hosted in Tokyo, Japan. It will mark the capital city's second time hosting the summer games, with the first occurring in 1964. Shown here is the Closing Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Wiki Commons by Walt Cisco, Dallas Morning News

In which U.S. city was President John F. Kennedy assassinated as he rode in a motorcade?

Dallas

Los Angeles

Houston

Atlanta

The date was Nov. 22, 1963, and the location was Dallas, Texas, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding beside his wife in a motorcade through the city. The gunman was later identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, although conspiracy theories about the shooting have swirled ever since.

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